Five of the most visible symbols of each year's Kentucky Derby Festival are the Princesses, who act as ambassadors and represent the community at a variety of functions, including an appearance on NBC's Today Show. These young women - one of whom is selected as Queen - enjoy a whirlwind of Derby Festival activities, attending nearly every event over a two-week period.

	2001 Court enjoys a break at the Waterfront Chow Wagon

Criteria for Princess selection includes knowledge of the Derby Festival, poise, intelligence, personality and campus/community involvement. Applicants attend an orientation meeting in the fall, with final judging conducted in December. A candidate must be a full-time student during the academic year, attending a university, college or accredited professional school with a minimum accumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. She must be 18 years or older on or before Dec. 31 of the year preceding the next Derby Festival.

The Queen is selected by a traditional spin-of-the-wheel at the gala Derby Ball. Each Princess receives two $500 scholarships - one from The Fillies, Inc. and one from the Kentucky Derby Festival. In addition to other sponsor gifts, each woman receives a complimentary wardrobe. The Princess program is coordinated by the Fillies, Inc., a volunteer Festival support group which also hosts the annual Derby Ball and produces the Festival's Official Program.

The list of past Derby Festival Princesses is an impressive array of business professionals, doctors, attorneys, community leaders and teachers. It includes former Kentucky Governor Martha Layne Collins, 1989 Derby Festival Poster Artist Page Penna and Gail Gorski Schlicht, the first female pilot ever hired by United Airlines. Many past princesses cite their Festival experience as giving them the confidence and initiative to help pursue their careers.